Top 25 Movie Fight Scenes

Going to the movies can be a therapeutic experience -- it can make you laugh, or cry, and helps us all learn to love one another. But it's also a great way to get out your aggressive jollies by watching jerks, bullies, and bad guys get what's coming to them.

After a long, stressful week, sometimes you need a movie to let off some steam. And to help you out, we've compiled a list of fight scenes so epic, you might need to throw in the towel before you make it to the final round. We've got everything from karate to boxing, spy to alien, superhero to schoolgirl.

Here is our very scientific way of determining the Top 25 Best Fight Scenes of All Time: Weapons are OK, but in the end, these men and women had to take care of business with their own two hands. We measured pure brutality with visual flair, uniqueness, and emotional impact.

Let us know what you think about the list. If you have any objections with Moviefone or fellow commenters, we fully expect you to settle your disputes in a stately and dignified manner. Or at least we hope you do.

(WARNING: SERIOUS SPOILERS AHEAD. Also, a lot of the brutal beat-downs are NSFW.)

Going to the movies can be a therapeutic experience -- it can make you laugh or cry, and helps us all learn to love one another. But it's also a great way to get out your aggressive jollies by watching jerks, bullies and bad guys get what's coming to them.

After a long, stressful week, sometimes you need a movie to let off some steam. And to help you out, we've compiled a list of fight scenes so epic, you might need to throw in the towel before you make it to the final round. We've got everything from karate to boxing, spy to alien, superhero to school-girl.

Here is our very scientific way of determining the Top 25 Best Fight Scenes of All Time: Weapons are OK, but in the end, these men and women had to take care of business with their own two hands. We measured pure brutality with visual flair, uniqueness and emotional impact.

Let us know what you think about the list. If you have any objections with Moviefone or fellow commenters, we fully expect you to settle your disputes in a stately and dignified manner. Or at least we hope you do.

(WARNING: SERIOUS SPOILERS AHEAD. Also, a lot of the brutal beat-downs are NSFW.)

25. The Final Fight in 'Commando' (1985)Arnold fight scenes are practically their own mini-genre (that have spawned countless imitators), and 1985's 'Commando' hits all the right notes: super-human feats of strength, an insane bad guy and a unique way of disposing of the villain. And to top it all off, Schwarzenegger punctuates the fight with a perfect one-liner that shows -- even when injured -- he always gets the last laugh.

Read the Rotten Tomatoes Reviews. 24. The Skeleton Battle in 'Jason and the Argonauts'(1963)
This 1963 fantasy favorite's centerpiece attraction is an undead sword-fight that features the stop-motion wizardry of Ray Harryhausen. Over half a century later, the battle is an impressive technological feat that pits man against monster, and a beloved adventure film that perfectly captures the thrills and dangers of Greek mythology.

Read the Rotten Tomatoes Reviews. 23. Edward Norton vs. Himself in 'Fight Club'(1999)
You can expect a lot of fights in a movie called 'Fight Club,' but the oddest, most memorable bout is Edward Norton's attack on himself, in front of his soul-crushing boss. In an attempt to escape his dreary 9-to-5 world forever, all he needs to do is frame his boss for a mugging -- allowing him to walk away with all the benefits he wants. But to make it look convincing, he has to make sure the wounds look really authentic.

Read the Rotten Tomatoes Reviews. 22. The Warriors vs. The Baseball Furies in 'The Warriors' (1979)
One of the most iconic images of the film -- an ultra-stylized depiction of after-hours gang wars in New York City -- is the face paint-wearing Baseball Furies, who chase the Warriors into Riverside Park, intending to collect a bounty on their heads. Going up against the silent, pin-striped hoodlums armed with sluggers, the Warriors have nothing to rely on but their fists and their refusal to go down without a fight.

Read the Rotten Tomatoes Reviews. 21. Bruce Lee vs. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar in 'Game of Death'(1978)
Because he passed away before filming could complete, Bruce Lee was never able to realize his full vision for 'Game of Death' as a showcase for the Jeet Kune Do martial art encountering various fighting styles along each floor of a high-rise pagoda. But he was able to complete what would become one of his most memorable showdowns -- against the NBA star and real-life protege of Lee's -- in a match-up that was supposed to represent unpredictability.

Read the Rotten Tomatoes Reviews. 20. The Opening Fight in 'Casino Royale'(2006)
The Daniel Craig Era features a gruffer, grittier James Bond, and in his 007 debut, he brought a new level of action to the spy franchise. In this memorable introduction, we see how Bond earns his 00 status. The violent assassination reminds audiences that behind the high-tech gadgets, nice suits and Aston Martins, there is a trained agent with a license to kill.

Read the Rotten Tomatoes Reviews. 19. The Train Fight from 'Spider-Man 2'(2004)
An amazing display of visual effects that highlights Peter Parker at his most super-heroic. The web-swinging nerd has an villainous equal in Doctor Octopus. In between sparring sessions with robot limbs on top of an out-of-control speeding train, Spidey must make sure to deflect blows, hold on tight and rescue all the civilians that Doc Ock hurls as weapons. The fight scene is a dizzying display of comic-book fun.

Read the Rotten Tomatoes Reviews. 18. Errol Flynn and Basil Rathbone's Sword Fight in 'The Adventures of Robin Hood' (1938)
A classic from the golden age of Hollywood, this swashbuckling duel highlights the charismatic work of two of cinema's legendary leading men. The climactic battle between Robin Hood and Sir Guy of Gisbourne is a back-and-forth display of skill and acrobatics, and just when they seem evenly matched, Robin still finds the time to verbally one-up his opponent.

Read the Rotten Tomatoes Reviews. 16. Dalton vs. Jimmy in 'Road House'(1989)
The 1989 action film has become a cult hit thanks to its over-the-top depiction of Southern barroom brawls. When local mobster Brad Wesley uses force to intimidate and extort local business, it's up to Dalton (Patrick Swayze), a New York City "cooler" with a penchant for philosophy, to stand up for the town. After Wesley's right-hand goon Jimmy (Marshall Teague) firebombs a house, Dalton engages him in a vicious fight that finally breaks Dalton's cool "beat up a bad guy, say something zen" exterior.

Read the Rotten Tomatoes Reviews. 15. The News Team Gang Fight in 'Anchorman'(2004)
The most intentionally hilarious fight on this list features a grenade, thick mustaches and a strict no-face-hitting rule. Filled with some top-secret comedy cameos and one of the most vile portrayals of the public broadcasting system (that we know of), 'Anchorman' gives modern audiences the trident brutality they vocally demand. The whole thing escalates rather quickly.